Guilty Pleasures: Top 10 Love Songs We’re Afraid To Admit We Belt Out

We all have them: those guilty pleasure songs that some snarky music critic or society has deemed as cheesy, bad, or just plain over-played.

When it comes to really embarrassing songs that are so ostracized that they make us roll our car windows up so we can belt them out in private, love songs are at the top of the discard-or-be-judged pile.

That being said, there is a reason that all those “guilty pleasure” songs are secretly popular with so many people: because they are actually good! Or, at least, we think they are.

We’ve made a list of our Top 10 Love Songs We’re Afraid To Admit We Belt Out. In the comments, let us know yours!

The first time we heard this song, it was from the soundtrack of 1996’s Romeo & Juliet. As high school freshmen, we were totally crushing on the Shakespearean geek in our drama class who hand-copied sonnets for us with fountain pen calligraphy.

Sure, we got older and realized that not every love story is a super romantic tragedy, but we still get teary-eyed when we think of those two star-crossed teenagers.

When we first heard this 1994 hit, we thought it was the most scandalous thing we had ever heard (that wasn’t a [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]George Michael [/lastfm]song.) Words like “making love” made us totally blush.

We still get a little shy when we hear this song, but that doesn’t keep us from getting down on one knee while karaoke-ing “I’ll Make Love To You” at a tipsy Tuesday happy hour.

Although this song was first recorded by[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”] Percy Sledge[/lastfm] in the ’60s, Michael Bolton made this song into a mainstream radio hit a couple of decades later.

With his long, Fabio-esque hair, Bolton was a hit with the ladies when reading “harlequin” novels was all the rage with the frustrated wifey set. Now we are part of that set and we totally see the appeal of a romantic-maned man declaring his undying love for us. Wooo.

7. “Rush, Rush”-[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Paula Abdul [/lastfm]

Not only does the music video for this song feature a super young [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Keanu Reeves [/lastfm](crush) and Paula Abdul, it puts them in a totally cheesy James Dean situation.

We used to love this song so much when it came out, that we tried to name our new puppy Rush. What are we saying? We still love this song. Shhh, don’t tell.

6. “Kiss From A Rose”- [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Seal [/lastfm]

Sometimes, when we really want to think hard, we ponder the meaning behind the extremely metaphorical lyrics of Seal’s “Kiss From A Rose.” How exactly does a rose kiss you? With all its thorns, would you want it to kiss you? Where is the greying tower?

But, most of time, we just like to sing this song loudly and gesticulate with wild, sweeping motions.

And apparently, it’s worked for Seal and Heidi Klum’s relationship. All that rose kissing and gesticulating.

5. “Baby, Baby”-[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Amy Grant[/lastfm]

Sometimes we still catch ourselves singing in this at the grocery store. The melody of “Baby, Baby” is incredibly catchy. So catchy, that it reminds us of the annoyingingly infectious “Song That Never Ends” from the puppet show Lampchop.

Only, it’s not annoying; it’s adorable. And we wish that Amy Grant had done more.

4. “Everything I Do ( I Do It For You)”-[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Bryan Adams[/lastfm]

Hands up if you ever had a program in your school where you could dedicate “songs” to your crushes on Valentine’s Day. Sort of like a Kiss-o-Gram but with music. As kids, we weren’t familiar with a lot of the other music, but we vividly remember sending this song to a dreamy-eyed eighth grader when we were in sixth grade.

Did it make a difference? Not really. But we still sing this song loud and proud whenever we are thinking about young love.

3. “No Ordinary Love”-[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Sade[/lastfm]

We don’t care who you are: pop diva, rock god, hipster. Almost everyone loves Sade. How can you not? Since the day she was discovered and started making music, this mysterious chantuese has been pure class and refinement.

Sade’s songs make hearts melt and eyelids flutter. They are also up there with [lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Marvin Gaye[/lastfm] on the typical “Let’s Get It On” playlist.

Yes, the song from the movie Titanic. We just want to belt this song out at the top of our lungs with our arms wide open. Is this the best song ever? No. Does it always remind you of the same uber-romantic scene and then bring you to tears as you think of Jack drowning? Maybe.

OK. Yes. Yes, it always does.

1. “Save The Best For Last”-[lastfm link_type=”artist_info”]Vanessa Williams[/lastfm]

When we memorized this song for a talent show, we never thought it would lead to never forgetting it. Like, literally, never. If someone gave us a microphone and told us to sing this song straight through, we could probably even do the mini-dance routine we created to go with the song.

What are some of your “guilty pleasure” love songs? Go on! Admit them! Let us know in the comments!